If the University at Albany men's basketball team gets some good luck Saturday, the Great Danes' two best players will be on the floor when they face Maine in the America East Conference opener for both teams at SEFCU Arena.

But that's a big if.

UAlbany coach Will Brown said he's concerned about the health of his top two scorers, senior forward Sam Rowley and junior guard Peter Hooley. The two have been sick since the Danes came back from Christmas break.

"They definitely won't be 100 percent," Brown said after the Danes practiced at SEFCU on Friday afternoon. "Nowhere close."

Hooley, who averages a team-best 14.2 points, didn't make the trip when the Danes lost at Niagara (65-47) Tuesday night, and Brown said Rowley (13.2 ppg) should not have played, either. Since resuming practice the day after Christmas, Hooley has practiced once, and Rowley just played in the Niagara game.

More Information

Maine vs. UAlbany

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where: SEFCU Arena, Albany

Radio: WGY (810 AM/103.1 FM)

Both players were at SEFCU Arena on Friday, but the two only did some light running.

"We're not making any excuses," Brown said, "but at this level, if your two best players can't play, you aren't winning games. It's frustrating. Eighty percent of what we do offensively is to get Sam touches, and the other 20 percent is to get Peter the ball."

Baker, who started for Hooley at Niagara, told the coach he was unable to get out of bed because of his sickness. Brown does not expect him to play against Maine, which went 1-11 in its nonconference schedule.

Brown said Hooley was tested for mononucleosis and that came back negative. Rowley had to be tested for a concussion after he passed out and fell while in the shower due to his illness.

Brown said he will meet with the players after talking to the Danes' team doctors and training staff. He knows that both Hooley and Rowley will want to play, no matter how they feel.

"I don't expect them to be honest," Brown said. "I would not be honest with my coach either. In their minds, they are not thinking they can hurt the team, and I get that. But they can only help if they can play some good minutes."

When asked what kind of illness is going through the Danes, Brown could offer little.

"All I know is that I have learned a lot in the past week about bacteria and non-bacteria, the flu, blood work and let's check for mono, and let's do this," Brown said. "Flip a coin. Pick something. There is some kind of bug going around, and what we have been doing is passing it around to each other."

If Hooley and Rowley don't play, Brown said their spots in the starting lineup would be taken by freshman forward Greig Stire, a CBA grad, and sophomore forward Dallas Ennema. If that happens, the Danes' bench would be very thin, with only sophomore forward Mike Rowley being left from the group that has been playing.

Brown said sophomore guard Tre Green, who has played 20 minutes all season (including a season-high seven against Niagara), will play more if the Danes are short-handed.

UAlbany ended the nonconference season with a 5-6 record. Before getting thumped at Niagara, which was 1-8 going into that game, the Danes had won three straight.

"We were not in a good mind-set, and we were not healthy," Brown said about Niagara. "We have taken that game and flushed it in the toilet."